A delegation from Buffalo State traveled to China to sign agreements that will allow Buffalo State to establish a joint bachelor's/master's degree program with Capital Normal University in Beijing. The delegation also began discussing the establishment of similar programs with two other Beijing universities, Beijing Normal University and the Central University of Finance and Economics.

Mark Severson (pictured), dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences, led the group on the December 2012 trip. The faculty members who accompanied him were Hongliang Xu, associate professor of mathematics; Tao Tang, associate professor of geography and planning; Xingwang Qian, assistant professor of economics and finance; and Amy McMillan, associate professor of biology. Zhang Jie, professor of sociology, was in China working on ongoing research, and he met the delegation in Beijing.

To be eligible, students must be fluent in English, as demonstrated by their TOEFL test score.

A number of joint educational projects, including art exhibits and visiting scholars, have already taken place with Capital Normal University. Buffalo State students have also studied in China, including one business class that traveled to the Central University of Finance and Economics.

“We continue to look for ways to expand our international education opportunities,” said Severson. “We want to provide more opportunities for international students to study here at Buffalo State and increase our study-abroad options for our students.”